red floyd wrote:
On 6/1/2011 1:21 AM, Paul wrote:
red floyd wrote:

Brand new mobo: GA880-GA-UD3H
CPU: Athlon II x3 455
Memory: 8GB (4GBx2) Patriot Sector 5 G 1066/1333EL (PGV34G1333ELK)

When I boot, I get the error in the title: "The System has experienced
boot failures because of overclocking"

Except... I'm not overclocking, all memory timings are set to "Auto"
and/or "SPD".

How can I get rid of this? The memory passes the Windows 7 memory test.

If it helps, I'm using the on-board Radeon 4250HD.



Thanks for the help, it's really appreciated.



GA-880GA-UD3H memory list (not really useful, info needs better
formatting)

ftp://download.gigabyte.ru/memory/mb...ud3h_v.2.1.pdf

Your processor. No important details here, either.
http://products.amd.com/en-us/Deskto...il.aspx?id=729

PGV34G1333ELK 2x2GB kit, possibly two kits totaling 4 DIMMs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220435

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardwar...-ii-processo/1



Oops. Typo on the part number. It was a 2x4GB kit. It's
the PGV38G1333ELK.




If you want an alternative suggestion, drop down to just two
sticks, set everything to Auto, boot into Windows, run CPUZ
and verify how the BIOS set up the memory.

I do have everything set to Auto. And it does default to 1066.



I don't like booting Windows, until the memory has been tested.
I use memtest86+ from memtest.org to do the testing.

Windows 7 "Recovery Console" has a fullbore memory test, similar to
memtest86+.

Some sites have recommended clearing the CMOS. I've already reflashed
with the FF BIOS. If using the CMOS clear jumper doesn't work, I'll
probably return the memory and get some AMD recommended (though that
PDF doesn't list too many 4GB/1333 sticks).

Kingston has some that they say will work properly with this mobo.


If you have flashed the BIOS, then clearing the CMOS is a logical step.

Some BIOS flashing tools, have a software option for clearing CMOS,
while the flash is progressing. The flashing tool may have
access to the 256 bytes of RAM in the Southbridge.

If that doesn't seem to be the case, then the manual method (Clear RTC
or Clear CMOS jumper) would be the next step.

The main warning about Clear CMOS, is some implementations have a
power dependency. The ATX power supply should be turned off, when
following the instructions in the manual concerning clearing CMOS.
On my machines, I actually unplug them, just to be safe.

A number of motherboards, they "short to ground" using the CMOS
jumper. And there happens to be a path from +5VSB, through a
regulator, to the node in question. If the power supply is
left running, installing the CMOS jumper to "short to ground",
shorts the +5VSB from the power supply, through a tiny dual
ORing diode package. One of the diodes gets burned. I helped
one poster repair his board, and he unsoldered the burned one
and installed two 1N914/1N4148 replacements. (You can replace a
dual diode, with two single diodes. His choice of a 1N4148
type was not the best, but he was pretty happy the motherboard
still worked.)

As a consequence of the possibility of damage, make sure the
power is off, before using the CMOS clear jumper. Not all
circuits are designed in the destructive way, but there are
enough of them, that it's just easier to turn off the power
for all of them. I've even seen cases, where Intel provides
a "safe" implementation, and the manufacturer ignores it
and installs the "burn if power on" method instead.

*******

With respect to RAM types, there was a situation in the past,
where there was a difference between "tuning" for 1GB and
2GB sticks. It took some BIOS updates, to get good Auto behavior
with 2GB sticks. Yet, if you look at the electrical specifications
for the two chip types used, there was nothing hinting at such a
difference. The electrical interface looked identical. And
yet, some tweak was required several years ago, to reduce the
error rate on the 2GB modules.

Perhaps your 4GB module is a similar situation. They've only
become popular (and cheap) relatively recently.

Paul